Bronsart von Schellendorff, Heinrich-Walter
- Date of birth:
- September 21st, 1906 (Neustrelitz/Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Germany)
- Date of death:
- September 12th, 1944 (near Château-Salins/Lorraine, France)
- Nationality:
- German
Biography
Heinrich-Walter Bronsart von Schellendorff was killed on 12th September 1944. At that moment he was Kommandeur 111.Panzer-Brigade with the rank of Oberst. He was posthumously promoted to Generalmajor.
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Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- May 11th, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Awarded on:
- June 21st, 1940
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Major
- Unit:
- Kradschützen-Bataillon 36
- Awarded on:
- May 24th, 1942
Award 121/5.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
- Unit:
- Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13 / 5.Panzer-Division / LV.Armee-Korps / 9.Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte
- Awarded on:
- September 10th, 1943
2092nd Award.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Oberst (Colonel)
- Unit:
- Kommandeur Panzergrenadier-Regiment 13 / 5.Panzer-Division / LVI.Panzer-Korps / 2.Armee / Heeresgruppe Mitte
- Awarded on:
- February 12th, 1944
The following press article, dated 26.02.1944, describes why Bronsart von Schellendorff was awarded the Oakleaves as follows…
“Oberst Bronsart von Schellendorff was awarded the Knight’s Cross five months ago for his share in the fighting within the Orel salient. In more recent days he has been involved in the defense against overwhelming enemy forces north of Kalinkowitschi during January 1944. The enemy sought to crush the bridgehead there from the north and cut off the German troops located in the bridgehead. The Soviets repeatedly managed to push back and/or bypass Oberst Bronsart von Schellendorf’s weak forces, which were deployed along a broad front in dense terrain. However the Oberst always managed to pull off operational decisions which, at the cost of the highest demands from the leadership and troops, brought about the possibility of reconstructing the front and holding open the retreat road until all units had succeeded in evacuating the bridgehead according to plan. Later on the Division’s retreat road was blocked by the pursuing enemy. Acting swiftly, the Oberst assembled a force consisting of elements of the divisional staff, the Nachrichten-Abteilung and self-propelled guns coming from the repair shop. Leading at the head of this weak motley of troops, he reopened the retreat road for the Division.”
394th Award.
“Oberst Bronsart von Schellendorff was awarded the Knight’s Cross five months ago for his share in the fighting within the Orel salient. In more recent days he has been involved in the defense against overwhelming enemy forces north of Kalinkowitschi during January 1944. The enemy sought to crush the bridgehead there from the north and cut off the German troops located in the bridgehead. The Soviets repeatedly managed to push back and/or bypass Oberst Bronsart von Schellendorf’s weak forces, which were deployed along a broad front in dense terrain. However the Oberst always managed to pull off operational decisions which, at the cost of the highest demands from the leadership and troops, brought about the possibility of reconstructing the front and holding open the retreat road until all units had succeeded in evacuating the bridgehead according to plan. Later on the Division’s retreat road was blocked by the pursuing enemy. Acting swiftly, the Oberst assembled a force consisting of elements of the divisional staff, the Nachrichten-Abteilung and self-propelled guns coming from the repair shop. Leading at the head of this weak motley of troops, he reopened the retreat road for the Division.”
394th Award.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
- Photo 1: Wehrkundearchiv
- Photo: Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv
- - THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945, Biblio-Verlag, 1997.
- THOMAS, FRANZ & WEGMANN, GÜNTER, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945, Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück, 1993.
- Die Ordensträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht (CD), VMD-Verlag GmbH, Osnabrück, 2002
- Kwasny A., Kwasny G., Die Eichenlaubträger 1940-1945 (CD), Deutsches Wehrkundearchiv, Lage-Waddenhausen, 2001
- Fellgiebel W.P., Elite of the Third Reich, The recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939-1945: A Reference, Helion & Company Limited, Solihull, 2003, ISBN 1-874622-46-9
- Patzwall K., Scherzer V., Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941-1945, Geschichte und Inhaber Band II, Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall, Norderstedt, 2001, ISBN 3-931533-45-X
- Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945
Photo
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